Unattached table and means for storing same



R. ELLIS A R-i123, 1968 UNATTACHED TABLE AND MEANS FOR STORING SAME Filed May 16, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

R. ELLIS A an-i123, 1968 UNATTACHED TABLE AND MEANS FOR STORING SAME 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed May 16, 1966 INVENTOR.

United States Patent 3,379,144 UNATTACHED TABLE AND MEANS FOR STORING SAME Robert Ellis, 350 E. Plaza, Solana Beach, Calif. 92075 Filed May 16, 1966, Ser. No. 550,251 3 Claims. (Cl. 108-33) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Means for positioning an unattached table against an adjacent wall with the lower edge of its top slightly above a hook or catch protruding from the wall, thus permitting the opposite edge of the table top to be easily grasped and manually lifted against the Wall and secured by an upper hook, which thus clears the floor space for other purposes. The securing hooks are normally recessed within the wall and the pedestal type table legs are then folded inwardly to provide a compartment with the visual side of the legs simulating a wall picture or ornament.

This invention relates to unattached table and means for storing same and the principal object of the invention is the provision of means for permitting an ordinary movable unattached table, such as a dining table, pool table or table-tennis table or similar article of furniture to be used in the customary manner with all four sides occupied or usable and, when it is desired to use the space which such table occupies for other purposes, such as dancing, meetings, etc., the table may be easily and quickly pushed against a convenient wall equipped with suitable table securing means and the horizontal disposed table top swung upwards at right angles against the wall and secured thereto.

And another object of the invention is the provision of means for providing a shallow cabinet with the bottom of the table top forming one side thereof while the pedestal type table legs, connected by hinges, are swung inwardly at right angles thereto.

When a pool table is used in such manner, the recessed table top may form one portion of a compartment while the wall will form the opposite side, the pool game accessories being easily stored therein ready for use. Other and further objects will appear in the specifications and be specifically pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings exemplifying the invntion, and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a front view of the table and fastening means therefor securing to an adjoining wall.

FIG. 2 is a side view in section on line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a partial section of a pool table in storing position against a wall.

FIG. 4 is an isomertic view showing the upper securing means attached to the wall.

FIG. 5 is a top view of a poll table showing how the accessories may be secured previous to tilting the table against the wall.

FIG. 6 is a cross section on line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is an isometric view of the triangle adapted to corral the pool balls and to be held by the side cushions when the table is tilted.

FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic view showing how a pool table may be temporarily superimposed upon a conventional dining table and the game played, and when through, stored against the wall, the back of the table showing a picture.

FIG. 9 is an isometric view of an alternative type lower hook support for the table edge when tilting against the wall.

Referring to the drawings in which like characters and numerals of reference refer to similar parts throughout the several views, the numeral 8 denotes a customary horizontal table top having the usual overhanging edges 9 and vertically disposed strips 10 secured thereto by any suitable means. To the strips 10 at opposite end of the table are secured by means of hinges 11 the pedestal type legs 12 which rest onto floor 13 when the table is in customary use, generally a short distance from wall 14.

A pair of horizontally separated lower hook members 15, longitudinally movable within housing 16 which is fastened to wooden stud 17 by means of screws 18 (in case of frame construction), are adapted to receive the edge-9 of the table top when the table is tilted, see FIGS. 1 and 2. The hook 15 has a finger hole 19 by means of which the hook 15 may be conveniently pulled outward from its normal flush position shown by dotted lines 15A, a stop 20 preventing its complete withdrawal. A small catch 21 prevents the hook 15 from sliding inward when the edge 9 of table top 8 is tilted into the depression formed by the hook as indicated by the dotted lines 18A, but by manually lifting the hook 15 slightly, the catch 21 will, due to the looseness of hook 15 within housing 16, permit the hook to be pushed backward within housing 16 so that the front face of the hook is normally flush with the wall 14, as indicated by dotted lines 813. This upstanding point of hook member 15 must necessarily be positioned at a slightly lower elevation from floor 13 than the bottom face of table edge 9 so that when the opposite table edge is tilted upwards as indicated by dotted lines 18A, the nearer table edge 9 will automatically slide into the belly of hook member 15 which thus acts as a bearing for the edge 9 during this lifting operation and then as a support for the table when flush against the wall 14. In this case a permanent horseshoe type magnet 23, secured within housing 24 and similarly attached to wooden stud 17A, retains the table top 8 in its now vertical position, an armature 25 being attached to the opposite end 9 of the table top, which armature is adapted to register with permanent magnet 23 when table top is an upright position. Of course the armature and magnet may be reversed in their positions. Other fastening means than magnetic may be used for securing the upper edge of the table.

The table legs 12 may now be folded inwardly as indicated by arrow 26 and shown by 12A in FIG. 6, thus automatically providing a compartment 27 in which game accessories or other items may conveniently be stored. In addition, the diagonal leg braces 28 fold as shown and are invisibly stored within compartment 27.

In the case of recessed table tops such as a pool table, the accessories may be quickly stored in proper place within the resulting compartment as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, two thin rigid rectangular sheets 30 and 31 being placed at opposite corners and tucked under the inwardly inclined rubber cushions 32 as indicated by dotted lines 33, thus preventing their movement when the cues 34 are secured into their respective spring clips 35 on both sheets 30 and 31 as will be readily understood. An upstanding plug 36 on both sheets, each plug frictionally fitting against inside of pockets 37, assist in keeping sheets 30 and 31 in position. The pool balls 38 are corralled by the transparent inverted triangular box 39 which has a right-angled corner extension 40 and which is superimposed over sheet 30 and also tucked under the rubber cushions 32 as shown. Finger holes 41 are located on the upper surface of triangle 39 for convenient manipulation thereof. A slot 42 is also provided which hooks onto the plug 36 as shown in FIG. 5, for additional security. Where the table may not be equipped with a projecting edge 9 adaptable to enter the hook 15, an edge 43 may be attached to the side of the table as shown in FIGS.

3 3, 5 and 6, by means of bolts 44, the projecting edge 43 now serving the purpose.

When the table is resting in vertical position against the wall 14, the rear portion only thereof is visible, such drab view being not desirable in a living room and to overcome this difficulty, I provide a painting or other suitable object of art 45 on the outer face of the pedestal legs 12 as indicated by the dotted lines in FIGS. 1 and 2.

In some cases it would be advantageous to utilize two tables in the floor space of one, as for instance a pool table superimposed onto a dining table as diagrammed in FIG. 8, where the pool table top 50 only is used and which table is simply laid flat upon the dining table top 51, the guide strips 52 attached to the bottom of pool table 50 causing the pool table top to fit snugly onto the dining table top 51 as will be apparent by the dotted lines 50A and 52A. The pool table top 50 is stored onto wall 14 as previously described for the legged table. FIG. 9 illustrates a table edge support alternative to previously described hook 15 wherein a wall plate 60 is attached to the outer face of the wall 14 by screws 61. and a flap 62 is hinged thereto by means of pin 63, a stub 64 preventing the flap to open any farther than shown, thus confining the edge 9 of the table top 8 therebetween when table top is tilted against the wall. The tip of flap 62 is magnetized so that it will be held in closed position against armature plate 60, out of the way, when table is on the floor.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that I have evolved a means for storing a separate individual table against an adjoining wall in a very quick and easy manner, generally by one person, and to again easily and quickly remove it for normal use when desired, the legs of the table comprising a shallow compartment together with the bottom of the table top when folded, this compartment being suitable for storing many associated items such as dishes, table ware, pool game equipment, etc., and while in stored position against the wall, will occupy a minimum of space and will have an artistic appearance to actually enhance the beauty of the room.

Various changes may be made in the embodiment of the invention hereinabove specifically described without departing from or sacrificing the advantages of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A movable unattached table and means for placing and storing same with the table top flush against a wall,

comprising a table having a fiat horizontally disposed top the edges thereof protruding slightly beyond the body of said table, and co-operative table securing means attached to said wall, said means comprising a lower hook and an upper securing element, the said hook extending slightly outward from said wall at such particular height above the floor so that the protruding edge of said table top will barely pass over said hook when said table is pushed against said wall, the said upper table securing element being positioned and attached to said wall to secure the opposite side of said table top when said table is tilted upwardly against said wall with said lower hook acting as a fulcrum, the legs of said table being of the pedestal type and adapted to fold inwardly when said table is in stored position against said wall, the said folded legs comprising hinged doors to form a closed compartment with the lower side of said table top and the apron of said table.

2. A table as defined in claim 1, the outer faces of said hinged doors being provided with an ornamental appearance simulating a wall picture.

3. A table as defined in claim 1, the said lower hook member having an upwardly projecting point adapted to slightly project from the face of said wall and the point thereof being slightly below the bottom level of the projecting edge of the table top, the lowerface of said projecting table top edge being adapted to slide over said projecting point of said hook into the recess of said hook when said table is tilted upwardly and to secure the lower edge of said table in position against said wall.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,164,753 12/1915 Rockwell 108-112 1,198,227 9/1916 Hinchey.

1,688,583 10/1928 Horne 211-87 2,042,517 6/1936 Ellis 108-135 2,471,635 5/1949 Marketal.

2,600,917 6/1952 Peterson 211-87 2,699,978 1/1955 Mugler 10s 113 2,829,855 4/1958 Gibson 211-s7x 3,140,674 7/1964 Cisler 108- 113 BOBBY R. GAY, Primary Examiner.

G. O. FINCH, Assistant Examiner. 

